What to do?!?!

We are planning a visit next February with my inlaws and are debating about where to stay...augh. We got a taste of the onsite life this year and now I am hooked and want to stay onsite again....I really want to stay CR-TPV or garden wing if they don't want to splurge on TPV.

My issue is this....they don't seem to understand the convenience of being onsite and just are focusing on the money aspect of it. I know you can stay offsite for cheaper becasue we have done it. But with three little ones under 6 at the trip time I like the convenience of going back to resort and being on the monorail as our youngest will be 17 months at the time.

How do I convince them that it is worth it to be onsite vs offsite?

My MIL wants to be able to golf a few days too and I told her that she can do this onsite too!

We splurge on vacations and she always tries to tell us to save our money...but we have been through a lot these past few years after losing a baby, and it changed my perspective on life and making memories with my girls! Not to mention life is short and you cannot take it with you!!

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Are they paying for the trip? I ask, because if so, maybe you could offer to pay the difference so they can't make an issue out of it? Or would that just make things worse? I totally get where you are coming from about staying onsite, I am the same way!

Do you HAVE to stay together? I mean, you could stay at CR and they could spend time with you during the day, even take breaks with you in your room/resort then leave at the end of the night to go back offsite?

That way they are enjoying your company, using resort amenities and still saving their money by staying somewhere cheap.

Maybe you look into renting points at BLT for a two bedroom villa. It still wouldn't be cheap by any means, but it would be the most economical way to stay in the area, with lots of conveniences for a family. Full kitchen, washer/dryer, 3 bathrooms...might convince her.

We are planning a visit next February with my inlaws and are debating about where to stay...augh. We got a taste of the onsite life this year and now I am hooked and want to stay onsite again....I really want to stay CR-TPV or garden wing if they don't want to splurge on TPV.

My issue is this....they don't seem to understand the convenience of being onsite and just are focusing on the money aspect of it. I know you can stay offsite for cheaper becasue we have done it. But with three little ones under 6 at the trip time I like the convenience of going back to resort and being on the monorail as our youngest will be 17 months at the time.

How do I convince them that it is worth it to be onsite vs offsite?

My MIL wants to be able to golf a few days too and I told her that she can do this onsite too!

We splurge on vacations and she always tries to tell us to save our money...

What to do?!?!?!?

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I agree, life is short, and sometimes compromise is in order, your children will remember the time they spent w/ grandma and grandpa, not where they stayed when they think back on this vacation (and the youngest won't remember @ all.)
I'm sure your ILs understand the covenience of staying on site, but I suspect that they also understand the benefits of having lived a financially responsible life and want you, their son and their grandaughters to enjoy that as well.
Although it is not convenient to stay off site, you do have 4 adults to help w/ the children and many many families have wonderful vacations despite not staying onsite.
The compromise in this case is to stay on site, but not @ one of the most expensive rooms (CR, TPV.) The room you want, @ $ 500 plus per night, is extravagant, if, however, you are paying for this vacation w/ current funds (not charging it on credit cards), have retirement savings and college plans well funded, then explain to your IL's that you can responsibly afford this vacation, if they still balk, suggest a more moderate alternative on site:
- POR or POFQ are nicely themed, many people really like CSR as well.
- maybe a less expensive deluxe - WL or AKL, plus WL has the easy boat access to and from MK
- look into renting points, I ran your numbers for 2 TP CR rooms from 9/14-9/21 (dates chosen @ random) the cost from WDW is $8156 ($4078 ea rm.) A standard view BLT 2 br villa (right next door to the CR) would be 273 points for those same dates, which if you rented @ $13 per point would be $3549 (or $1775 per couple split in the middle.)
Good luck w/ planning a vacation that suits everyone.

Well, as someone who has been blessed to stay at CR TPV twice, I cannot express enough how convenient that is!! Even if you stay in the garden wing, the name of the game is staying at the CR. Period. If I was you, I would do all I could to convince your in-laws that it needs to be the CR. Have they ever been to DW before? Once they are there and see the expanse of it all, they will be sooooo happy you pushed for the CR. You cannot put a price on being able to walk out the door and be on your way to the MK. That alone is worth every single penny!!! Compare that to driving in a car, parking the car, taking a tram to the TTC, before ever even getting close to the MK. It is not what I would want to do even though it would cost less.

Do you HAVE to stay together? I mean, you could stay at CR and they could spend time with you during the day, even take breaks with you in your room/resort then leave at the end of the night to go back offsite?

That way they are enjoying your company, using resort amenities and still saving their money by staying somewhere cheap.

I would never let my in-laws dictate where I stay, but that's me.

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I agree with this, unless they are footing the bill. If they are, you'll have to stay where they want to.

However, if each family is paying for their own trip, I see nothing wrong with your family staying where you want to, and the ILs staying where they want to. You can still meet up at the parks, meals, etc., as much as you want to.

I agree, life is short, and sometimes compromise is in order, your children will remember the time they spent w/ grandma and grandpa, not where they stayed when they think back on this vacation (and the youngest won't remember @ all.)
I'm sure your ILs understand the covenience of staying on site, but I suspect that they also understand the benefits of having lived a financially responsible life and want you, their son and their grandaughters to enjoy that as well.
Although it is not convenient to stay off site, you do have 4 adults to help w/ the children and many many families have wonderful vacations despite not staying onsite.
The compromise in this case is to stay on site, but not @ one of the most expensive rooms (CR, TPV.) The room you want, @ $ 500 plus per night, is extravagant, if, however, you are paying for this vacation w/ current funds (not charging it on credit cards), have retirement savings and college plans well funded, then explain to your IL's that you can responsibly afford this vacation, if they still balk, suggest a more moderate alternative on site:
- POR or POFQ are nicely themed, many people really like CSR as well.
- maybe a less expensive deluxe - WL or AKL, plus WL has the easy boat access to and from MK
- look into renting points, I ran your numbers for 2 TP CR rooms from 9/14-9/21 (dates chosen @ random) the cost from WDW is $8156 ($4078 ea rm.) A standard view BLT 2 br villa (right next door to the CR) would be 273 points for those same dates, which if you rented @ $13 per point would be $3549 (or $1775 per couple split in the middle.)
Good luck w/ planning a vacation that suits everyone.

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I agree with you about the memories part. HOWEVER, we can afford to splurge and not have it affect us. we have resp for all our kids already and can afford this. My problem is that they have never been to wdw before so have no idea how inconvenient it will be to be offsite. The other thing is that they have no problem spending hundreds per night to stay when they travel but wont other times with us there. my other issue is that they have a rci membership so could stay at wdw with their points but dont want to (not sure why). would rather stay by seaworld, which we arent going to.

The issue really isnt about money. They travel a lot and dont pinch pennies at all for it. I just dont know what to say to convince them the convenience is worth it.

In our case we would stay garden wing unless a discount comes out which then we would upgrade to tpv.

Maybe you look into renting points at BLT for a two bedroom villa. It still wouldn't be cheap by any means, but it would be the most economical way to stay in the area, with lots of conveniences for a family. Full kitchen, washer/dryer, 3 bathrooms...might convince her.

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They could use their RCI points to do it but she won't....my FIL would do it in a heartbeat...he is trying to convince her too!!!

Well, as someone who has been blessed to stay at CR TPV twice, I cannot express enough how convenient that is!! Even if you stay in the garden wing, the name of the game is staying at the CR. Period. If I was you, I would do all I could to convince your in-laws that it needs to be the CR. Have they ever been to DW before? Once they are there and see the expanse of it all, they will be sooooo happy you pushed for the CR. You cannot put a price on being able to walk out the door and be on your way to the MK. That alone is worth every single penny!!! Compare that to driving in a car, parking the car, taking a tram to the TTC, before ever even getting close to the MK. It is not what I would want to do even though it would cost less.

I hope it works for you.

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Thanks....I couldn't agree more!! I will say too that my husband will only stay onsite at a monorail resort...we spend a lot of time at MK (have actually only done it three times and AK once years before)....we did Poly this year and loved it so want to try something else.

How do you convince them how BIG WDW is?? I think if she understood that she would be more inclined to agree with me!

If she's this difficult just with where you are staying, how is she going to be all week? Disneys expensive, if she's a complainer it would ruin the trip.
Let her stay where she wants and meet up with them, you may have a nicer trip this way. I know it's wonderful to stay at the same resort but you may be happier being apart in the long run. I agree with you, you only live once......
And for what it's worth, I'm an on site fan too.

If she's this difficult just with where you are staying, how is she going to be all week? Disneys expensive, if she's a complainer it would ruin the trip.
Let her stay where she wants and meet up with them, you may have a nicer trip this way. I know it's wonderful to stay at the same resort but you may be happier being apart in the long run. I agree with you, you only live once......
And for what it's worth, I'm an on site fan too.

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I don't think she will ruin it at all. She is great with our girls and actually really wants to go to WDW with them. We were going to skip a year but she wants to go with us next year. I am honestly surprised at how she is acting about the room prices. I think she thinks it is really close to other stuff in Orlando and doesn't see the benefit of staying onsite.

She went to Hawaii and paid almost 600 per night for a room! She has o problem spending money on herself but gets cheap on other people!.?

I hate being told what to do on any day, but a disney trip! ACK! I would book where I wanted and let them do what they want. It's your money and your vacation too!
Hope you decide soon, I know the deciding can be stressful.
Good luck!

My problem is that they have never been to wdw before so have no idea how inconvenient it will be to be offsite. The other thing is that they have no problem spending hundreds per night to stay when they travel but wont other times with us there. my other issue is that they have a rci membership so could stay at wdw with their points but dont want to (not sure why). would rather stay by seaworld, which we arent going to.

The issue really isnt about money. They travel a lot and dont pinch pennies at all for it. I just dont know what to say to convince them the convenience is worth it.

In our case we would stay garden wing unless a discount comes out which then we would upgrade to tpv.

They could use their RCI points to do it but she won't....my FIL would do it in a heartbeat...he is trying to convince her too!!!

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Well, sounds like 3 of the 4 adults involved are on board (DH, FIL and you.) Not sure anything you say will change her mind, let's hope FIL can persuade her (he's probably had years of experience doing just that.) Has she said why it's so important to her to not stay on site? Would she maybe like the GF better? I know CR's theme doesn't appeal to me, but I do like the GF (and I'm probably closer in age to your MIL.)
If they travel frequently and stay at higher end resorts/hotels, maybe explain that this is your annual splurge and thus it means a great deal to you to maximize every moment you are there. Maybe explain that w/ such young children, there will be fewer meltdowns if you are able to scoot back to your resort for break times mid day, and since you as the mom of very small children need to think about what's best for them based on your experience, on site makes for a much better vacation. Let's face it, the price of the room is only a part of the expense of Disney and to scrimp on the room devalues all the other things you've paid for (tickets, dinners, etc.) As my grandmother used to say - tell her you don't want to be pennywise and pound foolish.
Good luck.

On property is so much more convenient. And so is being on the monorail. I'd pick a WDW deluxe anyday... I think I'd rather not go than deal with off-site and a MIL with 3 little kids at WDW...

It sounds like your MIL is making the decision for all 4 adults and 3 kids...

Unless she is the one paying for it all maybe you should take a vote. If she alone holds the pursestrings then it's really up to her. Maybe showing her a map and explaining transportation benefits of the CR (and how little kids and adults really benefit from a mid-afternoon hotel/nap/pool break) can help?

On property is so much more convenient. And so is being on the monorail. I'd pick a WDW deluxe anyday... I think I'd rather not go than deal with off-site and a MIL with 3 little kids at WDW...

It sounds like your MIL is making the decision for all 4 adults and 3 kids...

Unless she is the one paying for it all maybe you should take a vote. If she alone holds the pursestrings then it's really up to her. Maybe showing her a map and explaining transportation benefits of the CR (and how little kids and adults really benefit from a mid-afternoon hotel/nap/pool break) can help?

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nope she isnt paying for us at all...I think I am going to show her a map and explain it all. If we can get garden wing maybe that will be a good compromise?!

I know she wants to do things besides the park and so will my fil but there is golf, fishing isnt there? and lots to do at the resort. I was thinking they could do dtd one night we put the girls to bed early even.

Sounds like my parents. They have never (in 20+ years) used their RCI. They also won't sell it, or let us (any of the 4 kids) transfer it for somewhere else.

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do they use if for non disney?? my in laws have 200 to use before dec and another 300 to use next year. they never use it! My FIL said to book it with their points but she wont. she wants to use it for herself but never books anything.

do they use if for non disney?? my in laws have 200 to use before dec and another 300 to use next year. they never use it! My FIL said to book it with their points but she wont. she wants to use it for herself but never books anything.

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Nope. They just don't use it AT ALL!! So weird. And my mom has done the WDW half and full marathon ( once each) so they could have switched the rCi to wdw but were 'saving them'. Not sure for what?!?!

Nope. They just don't use it AT ALL!! So weird. And my mom has done the WDW half and full marathon ( once each) so they could have switched the rCi to wdw but were 'saving them'. Not sure for what?!?!

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Crazy isn't it?! My FIL won't travel with her right now because of work so they have a ton of points to use! I hope to have them when I get older to use with my kids and grandkids and will remember to use them!